Abstract: An improved refrigerator hinge assembly which provides for maintaining the proper adjusted position of a refrigerator door with respect to its associated cabinet. A factory setting of the refrigerator door can be accurately maintained with precision even after the hinges are removed for field installation of the refrigerator such as to pass a refrigerator through narrow doorways. A tap plate is located behind the cabinet cladding and has "wrapper" or hinge screw holes for clamping the position of the external hinge with hinge screws, while allowing for factory adjustment of the door position. After the door is factory adjusted in position, a supplemental mechanism is applied to fix the tap plate in the factory position independent of the hinge screws, such as an epoxy application or a separate and independent drill screw applied through the cabinet and engaging the tap plate.

Abstract: A lint enclosure system for a laundry dryer including an elongated lint basket supported beneath a lid. The lint basket is formed from a filter wall having a first end wall and a second end wall disposed at opposite ends. The filter wall has a generally U-shaped cross-section. An inlet opening is formed into the first end wall and a plurality of outlet openings are formed into the filter wall. The outlet openings are configured to cover successively greater portions of the filter wall at successive linear points between the first wall and the second wall. Lint builds up linearly in the lint basket, accumulating in a linear fashion from the second end wall toward the first end wall. The lid positioned above the lint basket includes a window disposed adjacent the first end wall such that when lint accumulation is visible through the window the basket is substantially full of lint. In this fashion, the window operates as visual signaling means for cleaning the lint from the basket.

Abstract: A refrigerant expansion device for expanding refrigerant flowing within a refrigerant line from a condenser to an evaporator in a refrigeration system. The refrigerant expansion device includes a tubular restrictor having a cylindrical main portion and a tapered nozzle portion wherein the nozzle portion includes an outlet end having an orifice. A solder ring is disposed about the tapered nozzle portion and may be press fit onto the restrictor for secure engagement therewith. During the expansion device fabrication, the tubular restrictor is inserted into the refrigerant line to a predetermined position. The exterior of the refrigerant line is then heated at the predetermined position such that heat is transferred through the refrigerant line and melts the solder ring thereby brazing the restrictor to the refrigerant line at the predetermined position.

Abstract: A bulk lint storage system supported by a top panel of a dryer. The storage system includes a elongated lint tray connected to the top panel and having an inlet port at one end for receiving lint laden air and an outlet port. A lid is hingedly connected to the lint tray and can be positioned in an open or closed position. A lint basket having an inlet opening and a plurality of screened outlet openings is slidingly supported on support rails extending from the lid. When the lid is closed the inlet opening of the lint basket aligns with the inlet port of the lint tray wherein lint laden air is supplied into the lint basket. When the lid is positioned in an open position, the lint basket is slidingly removable from the support rails such that accumulated lint may be cleaned therefrom.

Abstract: A door construction is provided for a refrigeration appliance where the door has an exterior shell with a certain degree of rigidity, an interior liner spaced from the exterior shell and being less rigid than the shell, a foamed insulation material disposed between the exterior shell and the interior liner and a reinforcement sheet having a rigidly greater than the liner located between the exterior shell and the liner. The reinforcement sheet may either be retained and placed by the foamed insulation material or by an adhesive layer between the sheet and the liner. Preferably the liner has a planar surface and the sheet has a planar surface in engagement with the planar surface of the liner. The sheet may be non-perforated or perforated and be made of a metallic material.

Abstract: An insulated door for a refrigerator or other appliance having an external panel of an open box configuration without integrally molded inwardly directed flange portions, a plurality of separately installed trim pieces arranged around an edge perimeter of the external panel, the trim pieces having a socket region for snap engagement with the edge of the external panel, and a flange portion extending therefrom inwardly. An inside liner is applied over the trim pieces and a gasket is applied around the edge of the inside liner captured between the inside liner and the trim pieces. The invention allows for the economical molding of the external panel and the assembly of the inside liner and gasket to the external panel before a foamed-in place operation to apply the inside insulation which will unitize the structure.

Abstract: A refrigerant expansion device for expanding refrigerant flowing within a refrigerant line from a condenser to an evaporator in a refrigeration system. The refrigerant expansion device includes a tubular restrictor having a cylindrical main portion and a tapered nozzle portion wherein the nozzle portion includes an outlet end having an orifice. A solder ring is disposed about the tapered nozzle portion and may be press fit onto the restrictor for secure engagement therewith. During the expansion device fabrication, the tubular restrictor is inserted into the refrigerant line to a predetermined position. The exterior of the refrigerant line is then heated at the predetermined position such that heat is transferred through the refrigerant line and melts the solder ring thereby brazing the restrictor to the refrigerant line at the predetermined position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for securing an outlet hose and an inlet hose or an inlet valve to a rear wall baffle of a domestic appliance such as a washing machine, dishwasher and the like. The outlay on parts and assembly is considerably reduced in that there is provided in the rear wall baffle an opening into which a retaining portion may be resiliently engaged, and in that the retaining portion has two outwardly open resilient engagement openings, into which the outlet hose and the inlet hose or the inlet valve may be resiliently engaged and axially immovably secured before resilient engagement of the retaining portion in the opening in the rear wall baffle.

Abstract: A lazy susan type pan and carriage assembly wherein the pan is rotatably supported by a carriage is provided. The carriage is also slidably supported beneath an adjustable cantilevered shelf. The pan and carriage may be pulled forward to extend beyond the shelf while the pan, supported by the carriage, may be rotated to allow easy access to the items stored within the pan. The pan is rotatably supported on rollers.

Abstract: An appliance is provided with trim about at least a portion of the periphery of its door as well as a cabinet forming a compartment which the door encloses. The trim on the door provides a flush appearance for the appliance while providing adjustability of the door with respect to the cabinet to satisfy gasket spacing requirements therebetween. The door, therefore, may be adjusted without affecting the flush appearance of the appliance created by the trim of the door.

Abstract: A sliding platform for a cabinet for refrigerator and/or freezer having a stationary base secured to a floor of the cabinet and a sliding platform guided and facilitated for sliding by a plurality of loosely captured rollers between the platform and the base and prevented from tipping by anti-tip tabs. Both the platform and base have air entry air holes for delivering return air to an air passage beneath a top surface of the base.

Abstract: An appliance including a compartment liner having a back wall, side walls, and rounded corners connecting the back wall to the side walls includes a shelf mounting system having a linear portion secured to the back wall, a hooked portion forming one edge of the linear portion and a folded leg forming an opposite edge. Spacer members extend between the linear portion and the back wall of the liner. A vertical series of slots to receive shelf brackets is laterally offset to the outside of a vertical series of fastener apertures.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and displaying a time interval between a valve closure and subsequent termination of a flow at a spigot is provided. The apparatus has magnetic sensors coupled to a flow regulating valve for providing a signal indicative of a solenoid-activated valve closure and detectors for determining fluid flow. The detectors have an infra-red light source and associated photo-sensor mounted near the water outlet spigot such that when a fluid flow is present at the spigot, the fluid reflects light from the infra-red light source so that the associated photo-sensor provides an output signal. A differential amplifier compares the photo-sensor output signal with a constant to determine a water run condition. Logic circuitry is connected to the comparison signal output to provide a timer actuation. The timer measures and displays the time interval between a valve closure and subsequent termination of flow at a spigot. The apparatus may be embodied as a hand-held or stationary unit.

Abstract: A water reservoir is provided for a refrigerator. The reservoir is formed as an elongated tubular member bent into a single U-shape with the tubular member having a constant cross section along its length and a constant vertical rise along its length from an inlet to an outlet. The two legs angle upwardly at a common slope and the legs are substantially the same length so that the inlet and outlet are adjacent to one another. The reservoir thus forms a compact shape which fits into a previously unused space behind a crisper drawer within the refrigerator compartment.

Abstract: A humidity control assembly is provided for use with a refrigerator crisper pan which is constructed to snap into a plain opening in a wall of the crisper pan. The humidity control assembly is formed of two pieces, a slide body having detents for securing the body in the wall of the crisper pan and a track for receiving a control slide member. The control slide member is received in the track and can slide to change the effective size of an opening through the slide body. No additional fasteners are required to hold the humidity control assembly in the crisper pan and no special molding or machining is required for the crisper pan.

Abstract: A condenser coil and a method of manufacturing thereof, with an extended heat transfer surface attached to a serpentine coil such that the assembly can be folded into a U-shape cross section to allow for cross flow of air through and around the condensing coil. In one embodiment, wires are attached to the serpentine coil in a preliminary stage of manufacture across a width of the coil along its length and the coil is wrapped into a U-shape. In a second embodiment, a planar flat plate is attached to a serpentine coil and the coil and flat plate are wrapped into a U-shape.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a defrostable evaporator disposed in a food storage compartment wherein a drain system is provided for disposing of the defrost water dripping from the evaporator during a defrost operation. The drain system includes a drip tray disposed within the food storage compartment below the evaporator and an evaporator pan mounted below the food storage compartment. A drain tube is provided having a first end positioned below the drip tray for receiving the defrost water and having a second end positioned over the evaporator pan such that the drain tube drains the defrost water from the drip tray into the evaporator pan. The drain tube further includes a drain trap portion and a vent disposed upstream of the drain trap portion. The vent includes a valve for allowing air flow into the drain tube for equalizing the air pressure in the food storage compartment with the ambient air pressure but prevents air flow out of the drain tube such that no thermal leakage occurs through the drain tube.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a cabinet defining a first compartment and a second compartment separated from each other by a divider wall wherein the divider wall has an air passage for communicating between the first and second compartments. A baffle is positioned within the air passage and is positionable in an open or closed position for selectively opening and closing the air passage. A motor drives a cam which is coupled to the baffle such that rotation of the cam operates to selectively move the baffle to the open or closed position. A thermostat senses temperature within the fresh food compartment. First and second switches selectively energize the motor such that the baffle may be opened when the thermostat indicates the fresh food compartment requires cooling and closed when the thermostat indicates the fresh food compartment does not require cooling, respectively.